Thermometer with Electric Generator

ABSTRACT

A thermometer includes a body member and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member. A thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member is adapted for sensing a thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal. A set of lead wires is coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission of the temperature signal. A display module is disposed in the body member. A processor is electrically connected to the set of lead wires to receive the temperature signal for display of a corresponding temperature reading. An electric generator having a motor with a rotary shaft is disposed in the body member. The motor is driven for generating electric energy when the rotary shaft is rotated. A capacitor is electrically connected to the electric generator for storing the electric energy generated by the electric generator and supplying the electric energy to the processor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of thermometers, and more particularly to the field of compact motion powered thermometers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic thermometers generally offer a great number of advantages over conventional glass and mercury thermometers for use in the health care field. Among the advantages of electronic thermometers are the elimination of sterilization procedures for glass thermometers, made possible by the use of disposable covers; elimination of the possibility of broken glass if a thermometer is dropped; a digital temperature display to eliminate temperature reading errors; and with proper circuit design and calibration, higher accuracy and resolution is possible with accurate measurement and display of tenths of a degree Fahrenheit being easily attainable.

Such electronic thermometers typically use a chemical battery as a power supply. However, the electronic thermometers are generally idle for a long time since patients only use the electronic thermometers while they are sick or feel uncomfortable. Thus such electronic thermometers employing a chemical battery as a power supply are not environmentally friendly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention overcomes the above-described problems by providing a thermometer includes a body member and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member. A thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member is adapted for sensing a thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal. A set of lead wires is coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission of the temperature signal. A display module is disposed in the body member. An electric generator having a motor with a rotary shaft is disposed in the body member. The motor is driven for generating electric energy when the rotary shaft is rotated. A capacitor is electrically connected to the electric generator for storing the electric energy generated by the electric generator and supplying the electric energy to the processor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a thermometer according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a thermometer with electric generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a thermometer is illustrated. The thermometer is made up of a body member 10 and a tip member 11. Typically, body member includes a probe portion 12 and a display portion 15. Tip member 11 is secured to probe portion 12 of body member 10. Preferably, it contains a thermal contact surface surrounding a hollow cavity. In one embodiment, hollow tip member 11 is preferably made of metal with good thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel.

A thermal sensor 51 is placed at the end of tip member 11 and mounted on the inside of the thermal contact surface. Thermal sensor 51 senses the temperature of the thermal contact surface and produces a temperature signal. There are a set of lead wires 52 and 54 coupled to thermal sensor 51 for transmission of the temperature signal.

As shown in FIG. 2, a display module 13 is disposed in display portion 15 and connected to lead wires 52 and 54 to receive the temperature signal for display of a corresponding temperature reading. In one example, display portion 15 may comprise a base plate 30 with a substrate 22 to support display module 13. A processor 76, such as integrated circuit chip, is disposed on substrate 22 to be coupled to display module 13. Processor 76 is electrically connected to lead wires 52 and 54 to receive the temperature signal; it drives display module 13 to show a corresponding temperature reading. Typically, base plate 30 is made from a plastic material and substrate 22 is a PCB board.

In one example, tip member 11 is made in the form of a tubular shape and closed at a domed, hemispherical or hemiellipsoid shaped end. The contact surface is brought in contact with flesh of a patient so that heat can be transferred from the patient's flesh to tip member 11. In one embodiment, thermal sensor 51 is thermistor. Lead wires 52 and 54 and thermistor 51 are both adhered on the inside of the thermal contact surface with heat conductive glue. The glue is an insulating material with good thermal conductivity, e.g., epoxy resin. Moreover, lead wires 52 and 54 are made up of a pair of electrical lead wires; they are used to connect thermal sensor 51 to processor 76 for determining a corresponding temperature to display.

Adverting to FIG. 2, an electric power generator 80 is disposed in body member 10. Electric power generator 80 having a motor 85 with a rotary shaft 85 a is employed to generate a current at output terminals thereof when rotary shaft 85 a is manually rotated in one direction by an external force. Specifically, the output terminals of motor are electrically connected to a capacitor 74 through wires 70. In addition, motor 85 is driven for generating electric energy when rotary shaft 85 a is rotated. A capacitor 74 is electrically connected to electric generator 80 for storing the electric energy generated and supplying the electric energy to processor 76.

In one embodiment, a mechanical part of electric generator 80 further comprises a handle 81 mounted into a surface of body member 15 and a set of gears 83 disposed on substrate 22 of base plate 30. The set of gears 83 are detachably secured to handle 81 and coupled to drive rotary shaft 85 a. For example, when handle 81 is rotated manually, the set of gears 83 is rotated so that rotary shaft 85 a is rotated to drive motor 85 for generating the electric energy. In addition, the set of gears 83 may comprise a handle gear 83 a detachably mounted on handle 81 coaxially with a rotation center of handle 81. A drive gear 83 b is meshed with handle gear 83 a directly or through other gears 83 c so that the rotation of handle gear 83 a is transmitted to drive gear 83 b. Thus rotary shaft 85 a meshed with drive gear 83 b is rotated.

Moreover, with reference to FIG. 1 thermometer 10 further comprises a groove 13 formed on the surface of body member as a container for storing handle 81 in a non-used position.

An operation of this embodiment will be described. When handle 81 is rotated in one direction manually, handle gear 83 a is rotated and hence drive gear 83 b meshed with handle gear 83 a is rotated. Since drive gear 83 b is meshed with or detachably secured to rotary shaft 85 a, a rotor of motor 85 is driven by the rotation of drive gear 83 b, so that motor 85 is operated as a generator and electric energy is generated. The thus generated electric energy is supplied through the set of wires 70 to capacitor 74 and stored therein. In one example, when handle 81 is designed to be only rotated in one direction by an external force, rotary shaft 85 a is rotated in the same direction and the D.C. electric energy is stored in capacitor 74. Consequently, a rectifier in the generator can be neglected.

Specifically, when motor 85 starts to rotate after this rotational driving, motor 85 is driven as the generator and the value of current generated thereby increases quickly. Capacitor 74 is gradually charged and the terminal voltage thereof increased gradually. That is, the D.C. electric energy generated by motor 85 working as the generator is stored in capacitor 74.

When the manual driving of handle 4 is stopped at a time instance from the start of the driving by letting the hand of the user off from handle 81, the D.C. electric energy stored in capacitor 74 is supplied to processor 76 and the terminal voltage value is reduced gradually. With stoppage of the driving of the motor 85, the D.C. electric energy stored in capacitor 74 was discharged completely.

Furthermore, a voltage switch 72 with a threshold voltage V0 may be disposed on substrate 22 of base plate 30. In one example, voltage switch 72 is electrically connected between capacitor 74 and processor 76.

Also, processor 76 with a lower start voltage and a higher operation voltage is electrically connected to both capacitor 74 to obtain electric power and the set of lead wires 52 and 54 to receive the temperature signal such that it can drive display module 13 for display of a corresponding temperature reading. In one example, capacitor 74 stores electrical energy by continuously rotating handle 81. consequently, voltage switch 72 turns on such that processor 76 is actuated to generate voice through a speaker to inform the user or drive display module 13 to display a starting signal showing a status that the thermometer starts or performs a self-test, while the charged capacitor voltage is increased to at least the start voltage of about 1.3V, nearly equal to or slightly higher than the threshold voltage of the voltage switch 72.

After that, Processor 76 is actuated to generate voice through a speaker to inform the user or drive display module 23 to display an operation signal showing a status that the thermometer is ready to perform a body temperature measuring operation action, while the charged capacitor voltage is further increased to at least the operation voltage V1 of about 1.5V, higher than the start voltage, which is enough to perform at least one or two cycles of body temperature measuring operation.

When the manual driving of handle 81 is stopped at a time instance from the start of the driving by letting the hand of the user off therefrom, the D.C. electric energy stored in capacitor 74 is supplied to processor 76 and the terminal voltage value is reduced gradually. With stoppage of the driving of motor 85, the D.C. electric energy stored in capacitor 74 is discharged completely later. Further, voltage switch 72 then turns off while the terminal voltage value of capacitor 74 is reduced gradually to lower than threshold voltage V0.

In such thermometers, capacitor stores energy through the rotation of the handle by an external force for the processor to use on demand, so it can be used like a temporary battery to maintain power supply. Thus, there is no need to use a chemical battery which is easy to cause environmental pollution.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermometer comprising: a body member and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member; a thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member, adapted for sensing the thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal; a set of lead wires, coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission of the temperature signal; a display module, disposed in the body member; a processor, electrically connected to the set of lead wires to receive the temperature signal, driving the display module for display of a corresponding temperature reading; an electric generator, disposed in the body member, comprising a motor with a rotary shaft, wherein the motor is driven for generating electric energy when the rotary shaft is rotated; and a capacitor, electrically connected to the electric generator, storing the electric energy generated by the electric generator and supplying the electric energy to the processor.
 2. The thermometer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a substrate, wherein the display module, the processor and the capacitor are disposed on the substrate.
 3. The thermometer as recited in claim 2 further comprising: a handle, mounted into a surface of the body member; and a set of gears, disposed in the body member, detachably secured to the handle and coupled to drive the rotary shaft, wherein when the handle is rotated manually, the set of gears is rotated so that the rotary shaft is rotated to drive the motor for generating the electric energy.
 4. The thermometer as recited in claim 3 wherein the set of gears comprises: a handle gear, detachably mounted on the handle coaxially with a rotation center of the handle; and a drive gear, meshed with the handle gear and the rotary shaft.
 5. The thermometer as recited in claim 4 wherein the set of gears is disposed on the substrate.
 6. The thermometer as recited in claim 5, further comprising a groove formed on the surface of the body member as a container for storing the handle in a non-used position.
 7. The thermometer as recited in claim 6, wherein when the handle is manually rotated in one direction, the motor is driven for generating D.C. electric energy.
 8. A thermometer comprising: a body member and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member; a thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member, adapted for sensing the thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal; a set of lead wires, coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission of the temperature signal; a display module, disposed in the body member; a processor, electrically connected to the set of lead wires to receive the temperature signal, driving the display module for display of a corresponding temperature reading; an electric generator, disposed in the body member, comprising a motor with a rotary shaft; a handle, mounted into a surface of the body member; a set of gears, disposed in the body member, detachably secured to the handle and coupled to drive the rotary shaft, wherein when the handle is rotated manually in one direction, the set of gears is rotated so that the rotary shaft is rotated to drive the motor for generating D.C. electric energy; and a capacitor, electrically connected to the electric generator, storing the D.C. electric energy generated by the electric generator and supplying the D.C. electric energy to the processor.
 9. The thermometer as recited in claim 8 wherein the set of gears comprises: a handle gear, detachably mounted on the handle coaxially with a rotation center of the handle; and a drive gear, meshed with the handle gear and the rotary shaft. 